A good profile of Bernie Kosar in the Cleveland Plain Dealer reveals that the former Browns quarterback is in bad shape physically and financially, but seemingly in a better place emotionally, having come to terms with the way he left Cleveland and made amends with former Browns owner Art Modell.
That Kosar is ailing financially is well established: In January a bankruptcy judge ordered Kosar’s assets sold to pay more than $18 million in debts. But while Kosar insists he’s “doing OK,” he’s also suffering from myriad physical ailments relating to his playing career.
“I’ve had surgery on my ankle to get a screw taken out,” Kosar said. “I had surgery on my right elbow to have spurs removed, and on my left elbow to have a ligament fixed. My back hurts sometimes. The ankle still isn’t great. . . . I don’t know how many concussions I had . . . a lot.”
Even though Kosar has lost the riches from the playing career that left his body damaged, he doesn’t feel any bitterness toward anyone, including Modell, who signed off on coach Bill Belichick’s decision to release Kosar during the 1993 season.
Kosar, who had long since made peace with Belichick, more recently paid a visit to Modell in Baltimore and said all is forgiven.
“I needed to see Art,” Kosar said. “We hadn’t talked since I was cut. I heard that Art was in a wheelchair and not doing well. I know that Art thinks he can’t come back [to Cleveland], so I went to Art.”
Kosar said he met with Modell “Because it was something I should do. Why not make up with him? Life is too short.”
And Kosar says that despite the bankruptcy and the injuries, “I really am content where I am right now.”